Capacity-Building for Women Lawyers

In December 2009, Freedom House and the Al Ghazzawi law firm provided eighteen young women lawyers and law students with legal and business skills in a training held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Several women lawyers from the Middle East and an international expert in entrepreneurship conducted the training sessions. A Saudi businesswoman also shared the challenges and triumphs she has experienced.

The participants learned practical skills that will help them become more effective lawyers. For example, the workshop focused on research methodologies, how to draft contracts, advocacy skills, negotiation techniques, and leadership skills. The young lawyers participated in a moot court competition that gave them the opportunity to practice oral and written advocacy. The participants are eager to apply what they learned in their everyday work. After the training, one woman said that she planned to use her new skills to "help people and defend their rights."